Simple questions for a "simple" story? Reading Daisy Miller

做作业啦...
1. Part I: Daisy Miller and Washington Square
1. What is the story--the setting and places?
2. Who are the characters, what are the age of the characters (The Miller family, Mr. Winterbourne, the Auntie, etc)
3. How did the story play out. How did Miss Miller and Mr. Winterbourne’s path cross and intersect?
4. Any details of story or languages that you like?
5. What are the words convey to us readers: i.e. innocence, intimacy, etc
6. What do you think of Daisy’s fate? Anyone in your social circle life who resemble the spirits of Daisy? But hopefully, not the same fate.
7. How does wealth affect our upbringing?
8. What do you think of Mrs. Miller?
9. Why Henry James tell the story?
10. What’s in this story for us?


2. Part II: Reading Lolita in Tehran
a. In chapter 3 of “Reading Lolita in Tehran”, the 8 year war between Iran and Iraq sets the background for Azar Nafisi’s memories of the period and the horror of war threatens their everyday life. By teaching James how the professor keeps her sanity and how she talks about their war experience and James’ take –on of the wars during his lifetime?

= <在德黑兰读洛丽塔>的第三章以两伊战争为背景, 重点讲述了战争的恐怖如何威胁着他们的日常; 教授是如何讲授Henry James 以保持清醒的头脑? 她是如何讲授她对战争的认识和James 对战争的态度的?

b. James attitude toward the wars has changed over time. Can you tell briefly why this change comes along in which part of the book?

= Henry James 对战争的态度有所改变, 你能说出是什么带来改变的吗? 并请指出在书中的哪一小节里?

c. What is overarching theme in most of Henry James’ fiction?

= Henry James 小说的主题常常是什么?

d. What differences in terms of theme or other things can you tell between his Daisy Miller and Washington Square?

= Daisy Miller 和Washington Square 两本书的主题或者其他方面有什么不同?

e. What do you draw from reading the professor’s experience in teaching Henry James?

= 从教授讲授Henry James中你读/学到了什么?
?

f. Some thoughts on the fact that American is deep in two wars?

= 对目前美国深陷两个战争有何见解?

A feast of Henry James

This is a gem from MCPL. Within hours you can watch 7 tales of love and loss based on the fiction of Henry James.
If Henry James really caught your fancy and the DVD is a feast for you, which will satisfy your insatiable curiosity of him.

Affairs of the Heart -- series one can be checked out from MCPL

1. Catherine – The Washington Square
2. Adela – The Marriages
3. Miss Tita -- The Aspern Papers
4. Grace -- Covering End
5. Milly -- The Wings of the Dove
6. Flora -- Glasses
7. Mary and Louisa -- The Tone of Time and The Real Thing

Places of interest in Daisy Miller

To make more connection and pretend, dear reader, we are touring Old Europe from the New World. Trace Daisy Miller's steps and encounter prejudice due to divisions between the two worlds.

2010年1月读啥?

人人必读:
1. Henry James's Daisy Miller (中文譯本在老牛手里, 紫羅蘭或水竹請跟老牛聯系; 英文本誰還沒有請跟螢火蟲聯系)

2. chapter 3 of Reading Lolida in Tehran -- James.

选读/电影
1. Washington Square (1997) / Washington Square: a novel
2. Wings of the Dove (1997)
3. The Portrait of a Lady (1996)

New York Times articles about Hollywood movies based on Henry James' novels

"审判盖茨比" -- 200912月读书会记

出席8人: Alice, 大雁, 老牛, 姥姥, 水竹, 萤火虫, 潇竹子, 竹林子

缺席3人: Alan, 雪, 紫罗兰

领读: 水竹

读书会欣喜迎来新会员, 潇竹.

在水竹的带领下, 大家从浅入深, 从远到今, 从小说到现实, 从没有梦到白日梦讨论地热火朝天.

雪的评论激活了大家细胞, 大家七嘴八舌, 争个不亦乐乎.

真是曲终意未尽, 让我们接着讨论. 有话这里说, 有诗这里作.

Nabokov Hunts Butterflie

Rare photos of Nabokov.

Nabokov Hunts butterflies 19 pictures

Questions for The Great Gatsby and Reading Lolita in Tehran

《伟大的盖茨比》

1. 为什么叫伟大的盖茨比? 他什么地方体现了伟大或了不起?
2. 你的生活中遇到或知道有类似盖茨比的人吗? 他(她) 为爱, 为情, 为义 或其它而愿意献身的? (准备好故事在开会时讲)
3. 作者是怎样描述盖茨比与戴茜之间的关系? (暧昧, 真情, 利用, 替代品? 等等 )
4. 你如何看待盖茨比的性格与品德? 你会用什么形容词来描写?
5. 小说是怎样通过盖茨比追求爱情梦想的破灭表现了年轻一代”美国梦”幻灭这一主题的?
6. 无论什么年代,穷人与富人(老百姓与上流社会的人)之间的爱情, 大部分都是悲剧, 你认同吗? 为什么?
7. 戴茜与汤姆门当户对, 但结果又如何?
8. 你从这本书中看到了什么? 学到了什么? 对我们有什么帮助?

9. 书中几处出现有象征意义的东西, 你能指出它们出现的页次吗? 它们代表了什么?

10. 盖茨比的故事是从Nick Carraway角度讲的, 这样做有什么好处?

《在德黑兰读洛丽塔》

1. 书中第II章审判Gatsby, 写的很精彩. 如果我们邯郸学步, 也开一个审判会, 你想办什么角色, 法官, 陪审团, 辩护律师, 还是诉讼律师? 说出为什么你选择这个角色.

2. 为什么以Mr. Nyazi 代表的学生这么憎恨这本书? 找出他列出此书的罪状.

3. Zarrin对Mr. Nyazi的 反击是什么?

4. 教授又是如何解释此书的?
5. 象The Great Gatsby文学作品在他们的课堂上引起这样的反响, 说明了什么? 我们今天读这本书有没有现实意义?